Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has lost out in his bid to ensure that his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) adopt indirect primaries method for the selection of candidate for the Kogi State 2019 governorship election, Igbere TV reports.
This was as the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday, ordered parties in the suit challenging the planned adoption of indirect primaries not to “take any step that could affect the subject of the case, pending its final determination.”
Justice Taiwo Taiwo gave the order while ruling on an ex-parte brought before him by the applicants; Destiny Aromeh, Isa Abubakar, Noah Aku and Joy Onu, who are members of the APC in Kogi.
Igbere TV recalls that the applicants had taken Governor Bello to court over the adoption of indirect primaries by the Kogi faction of the APC loyal to the governor.
The applicants had also sought the intervention of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) in the planned primaries, insisting on direct method for the selection of the party’s governorship candidate.
Justice Taiwo while granting their prayers also ordered an accelerated hearing in the case on the grounds that the APC primary poll for the Kogi 2019 governorship election is fixed for August 29.
The judge ordered parties to file all the necessary documents and indicated his intention to hear the substantive suit and all pending applications on Aug. 19.
While the APC primary will hold on August 29, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced November 16 as date for the Kogi State 2019 governorship election, reports Igbere TV.
